Dragons' Den, also known as Shark Tank, is a reality television program format in which entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to a panel of venture capitalists in the hope of securing investment finance from them. The program originated in 2001 in Japan, where it is known as The Tigers of Money (), a pun on "The Tiger of Malaya" (), which was the nickname of WWII general Tomoyuki Yamashita. The format was created and is owned by Nippon TV and is distributed by Sony Pictures Television.
Local versions of the show have been produced in over 40 countries, as well as one for the Arab world; in some countries, more than one version has been aired. The first version to air outside of Japan was the British programme Dragons' Den, which launched in 2005; in the several years afterward, most versions named themselves Dragons' Den or variations thereof, though some also used other animals in the title, such as lions. The Israeli version of the show, HaKrishim ("The Sharks"), was the first to use the "shark" moniker, during its launch in 2006. Since the launch of the American version of the show, Shark Tank, in 2009, many versions have been named Shark Tank or variations thereof. In versions where the name of the show contains a creature's name, the investors are referred to by that name.
Format The contestants are usually inventors, product designers, or service operators who have what they consider to be a viable and potentially very profitable business idea, but who lack funding and/or business acumen. They pitch their idea to five rich entrepreneurial businesspeople, who in most iterations of the show are referred to as "dragons", "tigers" (in the original Japanese show), "lions" or "sharks". Before the show, the contestants have named a specific amount of money that they wish to get along with a percentage in the business that the contestant is offering to sell to the investors. The rules stipulate that if they do not raise at least this amount from the dragons, they get nothing. In return, the contestant gives the dragons a percentage of the company's capital stock, which is the chief point of negotiation. The program does not show the entire pitch as scenes are selected and edited from the episode due to time constraints.
The dragons probe the idea further once the contestant has made the presentation. This will either reveal a sound business proposition resulting in an investment offer from one or more of the dragons in return for equity or a withdrawal from the transaction by either the contestant or all of the dragons. A rejection by the dragons is often given as "I'm out" which is usually triggered (in the investor's opinion) by the investor asking for a larger equity stake in the business than the contestant wants to give up, the contestant's valuation on the business being too high compared to its overall profits, the product not having any proprietary value, or the investor's belief that they cannot add value to the business. Sometimes the dragons identify troubling facts such as an embarrassing lack of preparation on the part of the contestant, the contestant's lack of business knowledge, their perceived margins, competitors, insufficient sales, or high manufacturing costs. Contestants often negotiate and barter with the investors. The deals agreed to on the program may or may not actually be carried through.
International adaptations Currently airing An upcoming season Status unknown No longer airing
+ International installments of Dragons' Den/Shark Tank Country Local title Network Current investors SeasonsAfghanistan Fikr wa Talash TOLO Australia Dragons' Den Seven NetworkPeter Higgins Sarina Russo Darryn Lyons Suzi Dafnis Simon Reynolds Season 1, 2005 Shark Tank Network 10 Current Robert Herjavec (5–) Jane Lu (5–) Davie Fogarty (5–) Maxine Horne (6–) Nick Bell (6–) Former Steve Baxter (1–4) Janine Allis (1–4) Andrew Banks (1–4) Naomi Simson (1–4) John McGrath (1) Glen Richards (2–4) Catriona Wallace (5) Sabri Suby (5) Austria 2 Minuten 2 Millionen Puls 4Hans Peter Haselsteiner (1–9) Oliver Holle (1) Leo Hillinger (2–9) Michael Altrichter (1–5) Martin Rohla (6–9) Hansi Hansmann (1) Heinrich Prokop (2–5) Florian Gschwandtner (6–8) Felix Ohswald (9) Selma Prodanovic (1) Marie Hélène Ametsreiter (2–4) Katharina Schneider (5–9) Daniel Mattes (1) Daniel Zech (2–7) Philipp Maderthaner (8–9) Alexander Schuetz (8–9) Stefan Piëch (8–9) Bangladesh Shark Tank Bangladesh BongoDeepto TV Sami Ahmed Navin Ahmed Ahmed Ali Leon Nazim Farhan Chowdhury Golam Murshed Sausan Khan Moyeen Samanzar Khan Kazi Mahboob Hassan Faatin Haque Anika ChowdhurySeason 1, 2024Belgium Leeuwenkuil("Lion's Den") VIER Bart Deconinck
Luc Van Mol
Bart Verhaeghe Season 1, 2018Brazil Shark Tank Brazil[pt] Sony BrasilCurrent José Carlos Semenzato (4–) Carol Paiffer (5–) Monique Evelle (8–) Sergio Zimerman (8–) Alexandra Casoni (9–) Former João Appolinário (1–8) Camila Farani (1–6) Christiana Arcangeli (1–4) Robinson Shiba (1–3) Sorocaba (1) Caito Maia (2–6) Sandra Chayo (7) Joel Jota (8) CanadaDragons' Den CBCCurrent Arlene Dickinson (2–9, 12–) Manjit Minhas (10–) Michele Romanow (10–) Wes Hall (16–) Brian Scudamore (19–) Drew Scott (21-) Former Robert Herjavec (1–6, 17–18 Kevin O'Leary (1–6) Laurence Lewin (1–2) Jennifer Wood (1) W. Brett Wilson (3–5) Bruce Croxon (6–8) Vikram Vij (9) David Chilton (7–9) Michael Wekerle (9–12) Vincenzo Guzzo (12–18) Lane Merrifield (13–15) Joe Mimran (10–12) Jim Treliving (1–15) Dans l'œil du dragon(fr) Ici Télé Current Christiane Germain (6–7, 10–) Isabèle Chevalier (9–) Nicolas Duvernois (9–) Georges Karam (9–) Marie-Josée Richer (9–11) David Côté (11–) Former
Danièle Henkel (1–6) François Lambert (1–3) Gaétan Frigon (1–3) Dany Vachon (1) Normand Legault (1) Serge Beauchemin (2–6) Alexandre Taillefer (2–4) Martin-Luc (4–7) Mitch Garber (4–5) Gilbert Rozon (5–6) Caroline Néron (6–7) Dominique Brown (7) China 赢在中国("Win in China") CCTV-2Bob Xu (1–2) Annabelle Long Yu (1–2) Li Guoqing (1–2) Yao Jinbo (1–2) Hugo Shong (1) Zhou Hongyi (1) Jerry Huang (2) Jack Ma (1) Colombia Shark Tank Colombia[es] Canal SonyCurrent Mauricio Hoyos (1–) Alexander Torrenegra (1–3, 5–) Leonardo Wehe (2–) Andrea Arnau (3–) Hanoi Morillo (4–) Miguel McAllister (5–) Álvaro Rodríguez (5–) Miguel Piedrahita (6–) Former Ricardo Leyva (1–4) Frank Kanayet (1–3) Juliana Barreto (1–2) Alejandra Torres (3–4) Samy Bessudo (3–4) Miguel Caballero (4) Croatia Dragons' Nest HRTMaja Pečarević Hrvoje Prpić Davor Štern Juroslav Buljubašić Branko Roglić Season 1, 2007(Cancelled in production)Czech Republic Den D("The D-Day") ČT1Dana Bérová (1–3) Marta Nováková (1–3) Tomio Okamura (1–3) Ivan Pilný (1, 3) Ondřej Bartoš (1–2) Michael Rostock (2–4) Margareta Křížová (4) Petra Rychnovská (4) John Vanhara (4) Michal Hanus (4) Denmark Løvens Hule("Lion's Den") DR1Current Louise Herping Ellegaard (8–) Anne Stampe (8–) Morten Larsen (9-) Nikolaj Nyholm (9-) Tahir Siddique (9-) Former Ilse Jacobsen (1–3) Jan Dal Lehrmann (4–7) Tommy Ahlers (1–3) Mia Wagner (4–7) Birgit Aaby (1–3) Peter Warnøe (4) Christian Stadil (1–4) Jesper Buch (1–8) Christian Arnstedt (5–8) Jacob Risgaard (5–8) EgyptDragons' Den is El Mashroua Alnahar Hala Hattab Hisham Al Jamal Season 1, 2013Finland ("Lion's Mouth") MTV3Kyösti Kakkonen Eero Lehti Toivo Sukari Lisa Sounio Kaija Ward Season 1, 2007 ("Lion's Den") NelonenRiku Asikainen (1–2) Anne Berner (1) Ari Lahti (1–2) Jorma Terentjeff (1) Oskari Lehtonen (1) Miika Toivonen (2) Saga Forss (2) Kim Väisänen (2) Leijonan luola Suomi("Lion's Den Finland")Current Elias Aalto (1–2) Roni Bäck (2) Jenni Kynnös (1–2) Inka Mero (2) Kim Väisänen (1–2) Former
Noora Fagerström (1) Sami Hedberg (1) Jari Sarasvuo (1) France ("Who wants to be my business partner?") M6Current Delphine André (1–) (1–) (1–) Anthony Bourbon (2–) (2–) Isabele Chevalier (3–) Former (1) Frédéric Mazzella (1) Catherine Barba (1) Sophie Mechaly (2) Isabelle Weill (3) Germany Die Höhle der Löwen [de]("The Lions' Den") VOXCurrent (1–13, 16–) Carsten Maschmeyer (3–) Ralf Dümmel (3–) Dagmar Wöhrl (4–) Nils Glagau (6–) Janna Ensthaler (13–) Tillman Schulz (13–) Tijen Onaran (14–) Former Vural Öger (1–2) Lencke Wischhusen (1–2) Jochen Schweizer (1–3) Frank Thelen (1–7) (4–12) Nico Rosberg (8–12) Greece Dragons' Den ANT1 (Season 1-3)Skai TV (Season 4-)Haris Vafias Tasos Economou Lily Perganda Maria Hatzistefani Leon Yohai Nicky Goulimis John Tsioris Former:
Paul Eformidis (1) Demetrios Mallios (2)Hungary Cápák között("Among Sharks")[hu] RTLCurrent Levente Balogh (1–) Péter Balogh (1–) István Lakatos (3–5, 7–) Ilona Orbók (6–) Miklós Bojinka (8–) Ildikó Tóth (8–) Farbod Lotfi (8–) Péter Csillag (8–) György Wáberer (8–) Tamás Szauer (8–) Former András Moldován (1–7) Gyula Fehér (1–2) Anna Apró (1) Szabina Tomán (2–5) Dr. Eszter Varga (6–7) Albert Sárospataki (7) India Shark Tank India SETCurrent Anupam Mittal (1–) Namita Thapar (1–) Peyush Bansal (1–) Vineeta Singh (1–) Aman Gupta (1–) Azhar Iqubal (3–) Ritesh Agarwal (3–) Varun Dua (3–) Kunal Bahl (4–) Viraj Bahl (4–) Former Ashneer Grover (1) Ghazal Alagh (1) Amit Jain (2–3) Deepinder Goyal (3) Radhika Gupta (3) Ronnie Screwala (3) India (Tamil-language) Startup Singam ஸ்டார்ட்அப் சிங்கம் Star VijayCurrent Suresh Ramanujam Sriram Sankaram Prem Barthasarathy Ajesh Saklecha Sathish Ganesan Alex Pavan Nirmal Jain Anand Gupta Dr. Gurushankar Vedha Arun Shailesh Haran Surendra Golecha Aravind Solamalai Pitchai Sanjay Sethiya Keerthy Suresh Ireland Dragons' Den RTÉ OneNiall O'Farrell (1–4) Peter Casey (5–6) Eamonn Quinn (6–7) Chanelle McEvoy (8) Bobby Kerr (1–4) Ramona Nicholas (5–6) Eleanor McEvoy (7–8) Sarah Newman (1–2) Norah Casey (3–4) Barry O'Sullivan (5–8) Allison Cowzer (7–8) Gavin Duffy (1–8) Seán Gallagher (1–3) Sean O'Sullivan (4–5) Israel ("The Sharks")[he] Channel 10 (1–2) Keshet 12 (3–)Current
Amir Eyal (2, 5–) Dovvi Frances (3–) Zohar Levkovitz (3–) Oren Dobronsky (4–) Yasmin Luchach (4–)
Former Aviv Tzidon (1–2) Jacky Ben-Zaken (1–2) Zeev Holtzman (1) Isralea Shatir (1) Nir Shretzky (1) Oded Daseu (1) Yossi Moldawsky (2) Nir Barkat (2) Ronni Ross (2) Hadar Goldman (3) Stav Schachman (3) Enia Adivberar (3) Eldad Tamir (4) ItalyShark Tank Italia[it]Italia 1 Luciano Bonetti Fabio Cannavale Gianpietro Vigorelli Mariarita Costanza Gianluca DettoriSeason 1, 2015Japan Manē no Tora("Money Tigers") Nippon TV Various Kenya Lion's Den NTVDarshan Chandaria Kris Senanu Myke Rabar Olive Gachara Wandia Gichuru Season 1, 2016LebanonDragons' Den: Al AareenFuture TV Omar El-Quqa Ahmad Tantash Nassif Karam Roger AzarSeason 1, 2007LithuaniaRykliai Lietuva("The Sharks Lithuania")TV3 Current Tadas Burgaila (1–) Dovilė Burgienė (1-) Robertas Dargis (1-) Einaras Gravrock (1–) Gediminas Kvietkauskas (1–) Toma Sabaliauskienė (2–) Viktorija Čijunskytė (2–) Malta Shark Tank Malta TVM Current Mark Bajada (1–) Alexander Fenech (1–) Michael Bonello (1–) Dino Fino (2–) Kirsy Kullmann (3–) Former Mark Weingard (1–2) Christabelle Camilleri (1–2) Mexico Shark Tank Mexico[es] Sony Channel Latinoamerica Current Marcus Dantus (3–) Alejandra Ríos Spinola (6–) Marisa Lazo (6–) Alejandro Litchi (7–) Amaury Vergara (7–) Karla Berman (8–) Víctor González (9–) Simón Cohen (9–) Former Rodrigo Herrera Aspra (1–6) Carlos Bremer (1–5) Arturo Elías Ayub (1–2, 4–6) Jorge Vergara (1–2) Ana Victoria García (1) Patricia Armendáriz (2–5) Luis Harvey (3–4) Braulio Arsuaga (7) Ernesto Coppel (7) Adriana Gallardo (8) Brian Requarth (8) Oswaldo Trava (8) Mongolia Шарк танк Монгол("Shark Tank Mongolia") Mongol TV Current Anar Chinbaatar (3–) Tenuun Otgonbayar (3–) Punsalmaa Badamdorj (4–) Badral Dandar (3–) Batbaatar Tsogtbayar (4–) Former Ariunbold Lkhagvajav (1) Tumengerel Sumiya (1) Tselmuun Nyamtaishir (1–2) Amartuvshin Ganibal (1–2) Oyungerel Janchiv (2) Enkhtuvshin Dashtseren (2–3)